Intent to Sole Source 9point8 Collective LLC for Translation of Research and Intellectual Property

The University of Montana-Department of Research & Sponsored Programs is considering a request to award a Sole Source contract to 9point8 Collective LLC for a strategic partner to accelerate the translation of its research and intellectual property into high-impact ventures aligned with forest, rangeland, and ecosystem resilience priorities. The contract will provide end-to-end support, from IP scoring, concept validation, founder recruiting, governance, fundraising, and studio management. • The University of Montana received an award from the National Science Foundation to develop a strategy for the translation of innovation to practice. • 9point8 Collective LLC offers unique, integrated tools, expertise, and proven track record unavailable from other Montana providers. • The LaunchIQ platform is trained on over 400,000 technologies, enabling rapid IP triage—an exclusive capability in Montana and the US. • The contract will allow the University of Montana to move from incremental progress to a durable, systemic approach to maximize the research impact.